Setting the hoe down with a thud, Su Ling sauntered over to Lin Zhou, who stood with his mouth agape in shock. He waved his hand in front of Lin Zhou’s face, trying to break the spell of disbelief.
“Hey, snap out of it, or you’ll catch flies with your open mouth!”
Lin Zhou snapped his mouth shut and circled around Su Ling, clicking his tongue in admiration. “Stylish, very stylish! You’re not actually farming in the countryside, are you, Xiao Ling?”
Su Ling raised an elegant eyebrow and countered, “Wasn’t it you who said that idle time is idle time, so I might as well plant some flowers for fun?”
Lin Zhou’s eyes widened in surprise. “I had only mentioned it in passing that day.”
Coming from an affluent family, Su Ling had always lived a life of privilege. Lin Zhou could hardly wrap his mind around the idea of him farming, but now that he was witnessing it firsthand, he had to admit that life truly had the power to change a person.
“Why did you come all the way here to deliver the equipment yourself?” Su Ling inquired.
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“R xkpple usw, schkswpzu!” Nkd Hbsw lmnzykxle, vbasokdt yd yax yaswde bkp pbswzela okvb y vlypkdt takd. “Tso’p vbyv qsa eleknyvksd? R qzlo cynj shladktbv fwpv vs pll usw. Gald’v usw vswnble?”
Rd alprsdpl, Fw Nkdt fyccle yd lzcso pbyarzu kdvs Nkd Hbsw’p pkel.
“Gnj!” Nkd Hbsw eyavle vs vbl pkel, cyalzu lhyekdt vbl yvvynj. “Gqvla dsv pllkdt lynb svbla qsa shla y xsdvb, kp vbkp bso usw valyv uswa qaklde?” bl nsxrzykdle okvb y bkdv sq alrasynb.
Fw Nkdt nbwnjzle, “Ebld kv nsxlp vs usw, vblal’p ds dlle vs cl rszkvl.”
Nkd Hbsw vbalo wr bkp bydep, bkp lulp nakdjzkdt okvb yxwple alpktdyvksd. Gp bl vssj kd Fw Nkdt’p ayekydv pxkzl, bl xyahlzle yv bso vbl nswdvaupkel bye vaydpqsaxle bkx. Gqvla psxl vkxl yryav, Fw Nkdt dso cakxxle okvb nyalqall fsu yde qalpb hkvyzkvu.
Gp vbl vos lmnbydtle rzyuqwz cydvla, vbl vawnj essa qzwdt srld, yde vball kdekhkewyzp lxlatle. Nlyekdt vblx oyp y xyd kd bkp qsavklp nzye kd y pkzhla-tayu nblnjlale pwkv, obs pvasel qsaoyae okvb y plakswp lmralppksd.
”Nlv xl kdvasewnl usw vs Ubld Zk,” Nkd Hbsw cltyd. “Tl’p swa nbklq ldtkdlla kd vbl ldtkdllakdt elryavxldv yde kp kd nbyatl sq kdpvyzzkdt vbl lzlnvasdkn liwkrxldv. Wasx dso sd, bl’zz cl uswa eleknyvle nwpvsxla plahknl alralpldvyvkhl, ps esd’v blpkvyvl vs alynb swv vs bkx okvb ydu iwlpvksdp.”
Ekvb yd yxkyczl pxkzl, Fw Nkdt lmvldele bkp byde. “Tlzzs, Odtkdlla Ubld. R’x Fw Nkdt.”
Chen Yi extended a courteous handshake. “Hello, Mr. Su. Please, just call me Chen Yi. It’s a pleasure to be of service.”
Usually, minor orders did not require his direct involvement, but Vice President Lin1 The term “林总” (CEO Lin) is used in the original text, but Lin Zhou was previously introduced as the vice president. For consistency, I’ll refer to him as the vice president in this translation. , who held this client in high regard, had not only assigned him to oversee everything but also deliver the equipment personally. This struck him as odd and perplexing, but after seeing the rapport between Vice President Lin and Mr. Su, it became clear that they were close friends.
Not wanting to overlook any details, Chen Yi promptly shifted his focus to the task at hand. “May I ask where you would like the equipment installed, Mr. Su?”
Not one to dawdle, Su Ling immediately guided them to the tea plantation.
Two hours later, four desk-bound office workers lounged in Su Ling’s living room, their bodies aching and expressions weary as they sipped their tea.
Lin Zhou rubbed his sore calf and stared incredulously at Su Ling, who appeared perfectly fine. “Aren’t you exhausted after two hours of hiking?”
Su Ling, now dressed in comfortable loungewear, held the teapot elegantly, pouring tea for his guests. When he heard Lin Zhou’s question, he answered, “You’d also get used to it if you hiked three mountains every week like I do.”
Lin Zhou gasped in awe, “You hike three mountains every week for two hours?! That’s incredible!”
Su Ling handed him a cup of tea and sighed, “Welp, that’s just how it is.”
Lin Zhou’s lips twitched in disbelief as he gestured at the furniture in the living room. “You’re surrounded by antiques worth millions, and you dare speak of hardship?”
Antiques?
A flicker of surprise flashed across the eyes of Chen Yi and his two assistants. What they had assumed were mere imitations turned out to be priceless antiques. How could he leave such valuable antiques out in the open without worrying about them being stolen?
Su Ling shrugged his shoulders and denied, “These treasures were left by my ancestors. I wouldn’t dream of selling them.”
Holding the white porcelain cup with both hands, Lin Zhou savored a sip of the fragrant tea. “So, tell me, how much of that ten million2 CNY 10,000,000 is approximately US $1,410,656.00. is left in your account now?”
Su Ling pondered for a moment, tapping his chin lightly before responding, “Around two or three million3 CNY 2,000,000 to CNY 3,000,000 is approximately US $282,131.20 to US $423,196.80. , I guess?”
Cough, cough, cough! Lin Zhou spluttered, nearly choking on the tea.
“Are you alright, Vice President Lin?” one of the assistants asked, concern evident in their voice.
Lin Zhou brushed off their concern with a wave of his hand. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
Setting the teacup down with a sharp clink, he shot Su Ling a disapproving glare. “How on earth did you manage to spend seven to eight million4 CNY 7,000,000 to CNY 8,000,000 is approximately US $987,459.20 to US $1,128,524.80. in just over a month in the countryside?”
The other three office workers turned in unison to look at Su Ling, expressions of shock plastered on their faces. Did Vice President Lin just say that Mr. Su had spent seven to eight million in just over a month?
With four pairs of eyes fixed on him, Su Ling remained unruffled as he started counting with his fingers. “I donated five million5 CNY 5,000,000 is approximately US $705,328.00. for road repairs, spent one hundred fifty thousand6 CNY 150,000 is approximately US $21,159.84. on your electronic equipment, bought land at the foot of the mountain for two hundred thousand7 CNY 200,000 is approximately US $28,213.12. , hired workers to build a single-story building for about five hundred thousand8 CNY 500,000 is approximately US $70,532.80. , used four hundred thousand9 CNY 400,000 is approximately US $56,426.24. to buy furniture and appliances, paid the tea farmers around seven to eight hundred thousand10 CNY 700,000 to CNY 800,000 is approximately US $98,745.92 to US $112,852.48. , and miscellaneous expenses add up to about one hundred fifty thousand. Yeah, that’s about it.”
A hefty silence fell in the room as Lin Zhou pressed his fingers against his temple and questioned, “All that adds up to over eight and a half million11 CNY 8,500,000 is approximately US $1,196,020.55. , doesn’t it?”
Su Ling lifted his chin slightly and boasted, “The tea leaves that Second Grandfather grew sold for over a million12 CNY 1,000,000 is approximately US $140,508.64. yuan.”
Looking at his upturned lips, Lin Zhou could not bring himself to burst his bubble. What’s there to be proud of when his finances are such a mess?
Aware of his penchant for splurging, Su Ling picked up the Dragon Li kitten nestled at his feet with a pretense of casualness and ran his fingers through its fur. “I’ll go prepare lunch, so make yourselves at home.”
Meow! Upon hearing the word “lunch,” the Dragon Li kitten perked up its ears and let out an adorable, soft mew as if to say, ‘I’m hungry!’
Whimper… Arf! The neglected little tugou sat on the ground, its tail wagging energetically.
“You’ve even learned to cook?” Lin Zhou exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face. What kind of life has Su Ling been leading out here? From farming to selling tea leaves, and now cooking for himself? Is this really the Su Ling I know? Boohoo, he’s so pitiful!
Lin Zhou could not help shedding a couple of tears, but Su Ling was hardly impressed by his over-the-top actions. With an exasperated sigh, he shoved the little kitten into Lin Zhou’s arms and headed toward the kitchen.
King trotted joyfully behind his owner, leaving the Dragon Li kitten and Lin Zhou to stare at each other in silence.
Meanwhile, Chen Yi and the others fidgeted uneasily in their seats.
Is it really okay for their client to be making their lunch?
Su Ling went to the vegetable garden in the backyard, where he picked some fresh greens, cucumbers, and scallions. He also dug up a crisp white radish and brought everything back to the kitchen. Once there, he retrieved frozen ribs, shrimp, and a flounder from the fridge before setting them in a bath of warm water to thaw.
Normally, eating alone meant he could settle for something quick and simple, but with guests at home today, he knew he had to make it special.
He tied on an apron and rolled up his sleeves, ready to dive into cooking with a determined expression.
Unable to sit still in the living room, Lin Zhou gave the little Dragon Li kitten a final, affectionate stroke before setting it down. He brushed the cat hair off his clothes, stood up, and made his way toward the kitchen.
As for Chen Yi and his two assistants, they were not idle either; they pulled out their tablets and began sketching lines on the blueprints with styluses, meticulously designing the layout for the electronic equipment. Within minutes, their workaholic tendencies kicked in, and they were fully absorbed in their tasks.
At the kitchen entrance, Lin Zhou leaned against the doorframe, his gaze locked on Su Ling. He observed every move in quiet contemplation, careful not to disturb.
Having known Su Ling for over a decade, Lin Zhou had never seen this side of him before. Su Ling’s privileged upbringing had always kept him sheltered, giving him an air of delicate fragility. After his relationship with Lin Feng hit a rough patch, he insisted on escaping to the countryside, which left Lin Zhou worried about his ability to adapt to rural life. Yet, those worries proved unfounded. Su Ling was doing remarkably well; aside from his tendency to spend lavishly, he seemed to have everything under control.
Holding his phone steady, Lin Zhou aimed it at Su Ling and captured the moment with a quick click of the shutter.
As Su Ling washed the vegetables, the sharp click of a camera shutter broke his focus. Perplexed, he turned toward Lin Zhou and questioned, “Why are you taking pictures?”
Lin Zhou pocketed his phone and walked over, gently ruffling Su Ling’s hair like an older sibling would. “You’ve worked hard,” he comforted, his voice filled with warmth and encouragement.
Baffled, Su Ling grabbed a leafy vegetable and shooed him away. “The kitchen is off-limits to idlers!”
Lin Zhou shrugged off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and arched an eyebrow. “Do I look like someone with nothing to do? C’mon, let me help you—”
In the living room, an assistant looked up, hesitation painted across his features. “Engineer Chen…”
“Hmm? What is it?” Chen Yi replied casually, his focus still on the design sketches spread out before him.
“I think Vice President Lin has gone into the kitchen as well,” the assistant shared, biting their lip in hesitation. “Is it really a good idea to let the boss and client cook for us?”
Upon hearing that, Chen Yi was struck silent, unable to find the right words.
Lunch was a feast fit for royalty, and everyone relished the meal with gusto. The assistant devoured two bowls of rice, yet still craved more. I can’t believe how delicious these vegetables from the countryside are! They’re incredibly fresh and crisp, and each bite is so refreshing! And those sweet and sour ribs? Their delightful sweetness and rich flavor make it impossible to resist. I’ve never tasted anything this amazing! If it were not for his full belly, he could have easily polished off another two bowls. Any slight pangs of guilt were long forgotten in the face of such culinary delight.
After lunch, Chen Yi and his assistants set off for the tea plantation to dive into their tasks. Meanwhile, Su Ling took Lin Zhou on a tour of his family’s ten acres of land.
“Wow!” Lin Zhou whistled in amazement as he took in the lush rice paddies and three plastic greenhouses. “You didn’t plant all this on your own, did you?”
Su Ling waved his hand dismissively. “How could I possibly do this all by myself? Of course, I hired people to help me with the planting.”
The rice paddies teemed with young shoots, each demanding constant attention — weeding, pest control, fertilizing, and water level management were just the start. Add that to the vast amount of vegetables growing in the three greenhouses, and the workload was simply overwhelming. Noting that he could not manage it all alone, Su Ling enlisted the help of a few villagers to lighten the load.
With a steady paycheck to look forward to, the villagers were more than happy to work for him and even took the initiative to help him raise fish in the rice paddies, creating a thriving environment that benefited everyone.
Yes, that’s right! They were raising fish!
Su Ling was astounded when he first learned that fish could be raised in rice paddies. His amazement grew when he watched the villagers release tiny fingerlings into the fields. As days turned into weeks and the fish flourished alongside the rice, Su Ling’s initial wonder turned to comprehension. It was then that he finally understood how the renowned “Chinese ricefish”13 The Chinese ricefish is a small, freshwater fish species native to East Asia, particularly found in China. It belongs to the ricefish family (Adrianichthyidae) and is often associated with rice paddies, where it coexists with the rice plants, hence the name “ricefish.”
You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_rice_fish came to be.
Lin Zhou hung on every word Su Ling shared about farming, his admiration for deepening with each insight. The more he listened, the more his respect for Su Ling blossomed into genuine awe.
If he had to live alone in the countryside, he was certain he could never make life as lively and fulfilling as Su Ling did.
Lin Zhou stepped into the greenhouse where tomatoes were growing, and his eyes widened at the sight of the plump, green fruits hanging from the vines. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Xiao Ling!” he marveled. “Your green thumb is truly exceptional!”
Without a trace of modesty, Su Ling acknowledged the praise with a nod of his head. “Thanks for the compliment.”
Lin Zhou stroked his smooth chin, his eyes arched in a smile. “But with all these vegetables you’ve grown, can you really eat them all by yourself?”
“Eh?” Su Ling paused, taken aback by the question. It struck him then that he had never actually thought about it before. At first, he had planted the vegetables merely to prevent the land from going to waste, and before he knew it, he ended up growing so much.
“If I can’t finish them all, I’ll just sell what’s left!” he declared with a grin.
“How do you plan to pull that off? Haul them to the market in town?” Lin Zhou questioned, raising an eyebrow.
In that instant, Su Ling recalled the last time he manned a stall. What began as a promising day quickly spiraled into chaos when Chengguan officers began their pursuit, turning the experience into a nerve-wracking ordeal that left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I suppose… I could sell them in a live stream?” he suggested, his tone tinged with uncertainty.
“Sell them in a live stream?” Lin Zhou blinked in surprise. “Do you need equipment for that?”
The author has something to say:
Finally, Baby Ling is all set to start selling veggies on a live stream! The prep’s all squared away!
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